How to Get a Perfect Manicure

Ever since I tried my hand at nail art two years ago I’ve received numerous comments and emails asking me questions about basic nail polish techniques. How do you avoid getting it on your fingers? Do you need a top coat? How do you care for your cuticles? They are basically asking, “How do you get a perfect manicure?”

The biggest tip I can give anyone is to practice but I also want to share with you the steps I go through for the perfect manicure. I hope you’ll find this helpful and not too overwhelming! Remember, you don’t have to change everything at once. Just pick a few new tricks to add to your routine.

Step 1:Wash your nails thoroughly with soap and water to remove any dirt/oil/etc. You could also opt to soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and rub over your nails to help your polish adhere better and last longer. I usually skip the alcohol but it does work!

Make sure all remnants of your old polish is removed. A nail brush {or a tooth brush} soaked in your favorite nail polish remover is a great way to scrub off stubborn polish.

Don’t forget to clean under your nails too! You could use a nail tool to clean under there in addition to using a nail brush. I don’t know about you but I’m always a bit paranoid about the dirt and germs under there!

Step 2: Push back your cuticles. You can grab a cheap cuticle pusher at a number of locations. When cuticles are pushed back they leave an even surface for you to paint.

Step 3: Trim your fingernails to your desired length. Don’t worry about shaping them here, just focus on the length.

A great way to make sure your manicure ends up nice is to make sure your nails are all roughly the same length when you begin. If they’re not, clip them again or you can spend extra time filing.

Step 4: File your nails to your desired shape. Mine are naturally square, while others are naturally round, but I try to file mine somewhere in between. If you use an old emery board file only in one direction. However, if you use a glass file you can freely file in both directions. I’m a huge fan of glass nail files because they are gentle on your nails, more hygienic than emery boards, they’re easily sterilized, they never dull, and they file quicker than emery boards.

Step 5: Buff your nails. You don’t have to spend a fortune on a good buffing block. The ones at Target that are around a dollar work lovely.

Think of a buffing block like sandpaper. You don’t want to use it too often or your nails will become very thin but using it once in a while will give your nails a healthy, smooth, and youthful appearance. The buffing block I use is a foam block that has four different colored sides labeled File, Buff, Smooth, & Shine.

Side one: File – This would replace a nail file so I skip this side.

Side two: Buff – Rub this coarse side back and forth over your entire nail to help buff away ridges and peeling. Don’t be excessive on this step or you could damage your nails.

Side three: Smooth – This side uses a finer “sandpaper” to help smooth down any small imperfections the buffing left behind.

Side four: Shine – This final step will leave a beautiful shine to your nails. They’ll look gorgeous with or without polish! {If I leave my nails bare I’ll often redo this step every few days to maintain my nails’ shine.}

Step 6: Remove hangnails. Use cuticle trimmers to quickly and painlessly remove any hangnails you may have. This will not only leave your nails looking much nicer but also save you from the discomfort and frustration that hangnails bring.

Step 7: Apply a base coat to your nails to help your polish last longer. My current favorite is OPI’s Nail Envy but Sally Hansen’s Strong as Nails is a close second.

Step 8: Paint your nails. This is the fun part and is also the step that most people skip ahead to. It’s not always necessary but don’t your nails look so much nicer at this point when you take the time to do a little prep work? I think so.

When I paint my nails I start by painting one stroke down the center of my nail and then one on each side. This is what works for me and is how I’ve painted my nails since I was in grade school but that doesn’t mean it will work for you. Practice a variety of applications and soon you’ll find a technique that works for you and leaves your nail polish smooth and even.

If you have an opaque shade of polish you may need to apply a second coat.

Step 9: Add a top coat for a lasting, chip-resistant finish, and if you use the top coat I do it will leave you with a high gloss shine. I can’t say enough good things about Julep’s Polymer Top Coat. I LOVE this stuff. I’ve told Julep that if they ever stop selling it they have to tell me in advance so I can buy a lifetime supply from them. Yes, it’s that good! Allow your polish to dry for 2-3 minutes then apply Julep’s Polymer Top Coat and let set for 3-5 minutes in indoor lighting {Nothing fancy, just a regular fluorescent bulb}. Then your nails will be completely dry and smudge-proof.

Step 10: Clean up. This is a trick I learned while going through an artsy stage in high school. Cleaning up the left over nail polish around my nail drove me nuts because nothing seemed to work. As careful as I tried to be there was always just a teensy bit of polish where I didn’t want it. Then one day the answer dawned on me! I dipped one of my smallest art brushes in nail polish remover then rubbed it on the skin around my nail. It worked wonders and I felt like a genius.

I think I’m the only one in the beauty world who doesn’t like a gap between my polish and my cuticle. I want it right up to the edge without crossing over. However, if you’re in the vast majority who like this new gap trend you could take a tiny brush and swirl it around the inside of your cuticle to give you that look.

You can pick up a brush at your local craft store for a few bucks and it will last you years and years. I’m still using that brush I first experimented with in high school and I don’t want to think about how many years ago that’s been!

There you have it, folks! Those are the ten steps I take when I want to achieve a perfect manicure. What steps do you take when you attempt a perfect DIY manicure?

Great tips. I have acrylics, so I get my nails done at the salon. My left hand is pretty much useless, especially when it comes to painting the nails on my right hand, so I need someone to do it for me 😉

Ah-ha! That paintbrush is a GREAT idea for cleaning up slips and spots of nail polish! Going to pick up some very very small paintbrushes the next time I’m at Michael’s for the sole purpose of my manicures!

I never thought to use a small paint brush for the nail polish remover. That’s a great idea! I usually use a q-tip, but even they’re not small enough, and end up wiping some of the nail polish of the nail.

Thanks for these tips! I am definitely one of those people that just cuts my nails short and then paints all over the skin around my nails too haha. I just pick it off later, but I have to be sure not to leave the house til I do that because my hands look super messy 😉

Great post.. I sooo need to take your tips and try to make my own manicure, I soo need one but hate spending the money, you made it look so simple but it turned out great, love the little heart on your nails, thanks for sharing

I WISH I could grow out my natural nails. I’m so jealous! I use acrylic, but some of these tips will still come in handy for me – like pushing back my cuticles and using a paint brush to clean up the extra polish. And these are great photos!

Love the buffing! I never seem to take the time for my nails.. but I’m a dental hygienist so my nails are behind gloves most of the day.. and nail polish is “unsanitary” for medical professionals. I wish they were always pretty though!! 😀

Hi, I’m Ashley!

I'm a stay at home mom to one adorable little girl and I have the most amazing husband! We're a typical family that struggles with finances, priorities, and all the other challenges that life throws our way. I’m passionate about glorifying God and making the most of each and every day here on earth. Read more